Myofascial Trigger Points of the Levator Scapulae Muscle

Myofascial Pain Syndrome Clinical Trial

Official title:

Sonoelastography, Tensiomyography and Mechanosensitivity Between Latent, Active and Control Trigger Points in Myofascial Trigger Points of the Levator Scapulae Muscle.

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05776199
• Other study ID #: 03/23
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 1, 2022
• Est. completion date: December 28, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: May 2023
• Source: Universidad Católica de Ávila
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Chronic neck pain (CNP) is considered one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders worldwide and myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder in the majority of the population. However, normal tissue contractility changes and the different types of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) measured by tensiomography have not yet been studied. For this reason, the aim of our study is to determine the differences in pressure pain threshold (PPT), tensiomyography and sonoelastography between the palpation zone of control points with respect to active and latent MTrPs in the levator scapulae muscles of subjects with CNP. A single-blind descriptive cross-sectional study is conducted with a convenience sample of 60 points (20 active, 20 latent and 20 control points) on both sides of the subject in the levator scapulae muscles of individuals diagnosed with CNP.

The order of outcome measurements for each point was PPT, manual tension index sonoelastography and tensiomyography separated by 15 minutes. Objective contractile parameters were: contraction time (Tc), mean relaxation time (Tr), maximum radial displacement (Dm), holding time (Ts) and delay time (Td).

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 80
• Est. completion date: December 28, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: September 21, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 65 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Bilateral presence of at least one active trigger point.

• One control point and one latent trigger point in the levator scapulae muscles.

• Subjects aged between 18 and 65 years.

• Subjects diagnosed with chronic neck pain for more than 6 weeks.

• Signed informed consent to be able to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous treatment for chronic neck pain (within one year) or medical history with a diagnosis of neuropathy.

• Rheumatoid arthritis.

• Myopathy.

• Cognitive impairment or mental disability.

• Skin disorders.

• Pregnancy.

• Activity level of a high-level athlete.

• Medical conditions (fractures, structural deformities and neoplasms).

• Surgical interventions in the cervical-dorsal region or upper extremities.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Fibromyalgia
• Myofascial Pain Syndrome
• Myofascial Pain Syndromes

Intervention

Diagnostic Test:
• Sonoelastography, tensiomyography and mechanosensitivity
To observe the differences between the different trigger points of the levator scapulae muscle by means of different diagnostic options.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Spain	Universidad Católica de Ávila	Ávila

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Universidad Católica de Ávila

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Spain, 

References & Publications (7)

Koo TK, Guo JY, Brown CM. Test-retest reliability, repeatability, and sensitivity of an automated deformation-controlled indentation on pressure pain threshold measurement. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2013 Feb;36(2):84-90. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2013.01.001 — View Citation

Myburgh C, Lauridsen HH, Larsen AH, Hartvigsen J. Standardized manual palpation of myofascial trigger points in relation to neck/shoulder pain; the influence of clinical experience on inter-examiner reproducibility. Man Ther. 2011 Apr;16(2):136-40. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2010.08.002. Epub 2010 Sep 1. — View Citation

Park G, Kim CW, Park SB, Kim MJ, Jang SH. Reliability and usefulness of the pressure pain threshold measurement in patients with myofascial pain. Ann Rehabil Med. 2011 Jun;35(3):412-7. doi: 10.5535/arm.2011.35.3.412. Epub 2011 Jun 30. — View Citation

Sigrist RMS, Liau J, Kaffas AE, Chammas MC, Willmann JK. Ultrasound Elastography: Review of Techniques and Clinical Applications. Theranostics. 2017 Mar 7;7(5):1303-1329. doi: 10.7150/thno.18650. eCollection 2017. — View Citation

Thomas K, Shankar H. Targeting myofascial taut bands by ultrasound. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2013 Jul;17(7):349. doi: 10.1007/s11916-013-0349-4. — View Citation

Tous-Fajardo J, Moras G, Rodriguez-Jimenez S, Usach R, Doutres DM, Maffiuletti NA. Inter-rater reliability of muscle contractile property measurements using non-invasive tensiomyography. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2010 Aug;20(4):761-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jeleki — View Citation

Turo D, Otto P, Shah JP, Heimur J, Gebreab T, Zaazhoa M, Armstrong K, Gerber LH, Sikdar S. Ultrasonic characterization of the upper trapezius muscle in patients with chronic neck pain. Ultrason Imaging. 2013 Apr;35(2):173-87. doi: 10.1177/0161734612472408 — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	manual tension index sonoelastography	Measurement of manual ultrasound transducer tension on the trigger point of the levator scapulae	1 week
Secondary	tensiomyography	Ultrasound transducer tensiomyography measurement of the levator scapulae trigger point	1 week
Secondary	minimum intensity of a stimulus that elicits the sensation of pain (pressure pain threshold).	patient-tolerable pain at the trigger point of the levator scapulae muscle measured by algometer.	1 week